Tropical update: 70 percent chance of cyclone

There’s a 70 percent chance of a tropical cyclone forming within two and five days (Source: National Hurricane Center)

While a low pressure system 550 miles east of the southern Windward Islands is not quite a tropical cyclone, there’s a 70 percent chance it will become one within two days, according to the National Hurricane Center[2].

The cyclone would be named Bertha[3], if it reaches tropical storm status.

At 2 p.m., a hurricane hunter aircraft was investigating and preliminary reports indicated
that the system was generating winds to nearly gale-force strength, according to the center.

But satellite images indicated that showers and thunderstorms associated with the system have diminished significantly since this morning, according to the center. So the low did not meet tropical cyclone criteria.

Still, showers and thunderstorms could redevelop later today or tonight, which could result in a tropical cyclone forming, the center says.

One look at a map shows how close Hurricane Gloria[4] came to New Jersey on Sept. 27, 1985.

And we all know that superstorm Sandy scored a direct hit in New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012, as did Tropical Storm Irene on August 28, 2011.

Are you ready for another major storm in the Garden State this summer or fall?